Radiological Examinations of Inferior Turbinate in Patients with or without Deviated Nasal Septum by Using Computed Tomography / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the radiological anatomic dimensions of the inferior turbinate in patients without deviated nasal septum and compare it to those in the patients with deviated nasal septum using computed tomography. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The OMU CTs of 98 patients, 196 nostrils with or without deviated nasal septum were evaluated (control group: 42 patients, deviated septum group: 56 patients). The analysis of the CT scans contained the mucosal and bony length, mucosal width of the turbinate and the anterior and posterior mucosal overlay. And also evaluated the cross-sectional area and the type of inferior turbinate bone. RESULTS: All subjects were divided into three groups: the concave, convex, and control groups. The correlations of fifteen measuring points such as anterior, middle and posterior medial mucosal thickness, total width, bone width, medial mucosa width of inferior turbinate, and area of inferior turbinate bone were significantly different among the groups (concave side>con-trol group>convex side). Of the demographic factors, age was negatively correlated with mucosa and bone length. Types of inferior turbinate bone were as follows: lamella type (38%), combined type (37%), compact type (25%). CONCLUSION: There were statistical differences in some measured anatomical points among the concave, convex, and control groups. Greater septum deviation was correlated with greater degree of hypertrophysm of the inferior turbinate. The age of patients showed negative correlation with inferior turbinate length. Most frequent type of inferior turbinate was lamella type. The results of this study may provide important information when considering turbinate surgery.

Relation between Stress-Related Hormone and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The plasma stress-related hormonal [cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)] levels have been reported to be elevated in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms related with the elevation of stress-related hormonal levels in SSNHL. Therefore, we measured the level of plasma stress-related hormones in SSNHL patients and in normal persons to demonstrate the association between the stress-related hormones and SSNHL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Stress-related hormonal levels were measured from 68 patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL. These values were compared with the stress-related hormonal levels of 24 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: The plasma ADH levels was significantly higher in SSNHL group compared with that in their normal control group, as shown by their respective values, 4.46 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.80-5.24 pg/mL] and 3.05 (95% CI: 2.34-3.98 pg/mL). The values for plasma cortisol, growth hormone, and ACTH levels whose values were 2.07 (95% CI: 1.65-2.61 microg/L), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.14-0.29 microg/L), and 12.79 (95% CI: 11.16-14.66 pg/mL), respectively, were significantly lower in the SSNHL group than those in the normal control group whose values were 7.86 (95% CI: 5.33-5.24 microg/L), 0.61 (95% CI: 0.36-1.04 microg/L), 18.48 (95% CI: 14.99-22.78 pg/mL), respectively. But there was no significant difference in prolactin between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a possible role of stress-related hormones in the pathogenesis of SSNHL. However, only ADH level was higher than the control group. Furthermore, ACTH, growth hormone and cortisol levels were lower than the control groups. This means ADH, growth hormone, cortisol, ACTH levels are related with SSNHL. However, the impact of this hormone on the inner ear and endolymph homeostasis is still unknown. Further investigation is necessary to identify the action mechanism of these hormones in the inner ear.

A Case of Cerebellar Arteriovenous Malformation with Positional Down Beat Nystagmus / 대한평형의학회지

Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system in the central nervous system. The first symptom of AVM is intracranial hemorrhage, followed by headache and seizure. However, dizziness as a symptom of AVM is very rare. We report a 16-year-old female patient who presented with disequilibrium. She showed down-beating nystamgus on Dix-Hallpike test and falling tendency on Romberg test with eyes open. Magnetic resonance image showed cerebellar AVM.